Flea Control for Dogs

Bathing your dog with a chemical-laden flea shampoo may get rid of fleas but may not be the healthiest option for your dog or your household. Pet shops now sell high-end organic flea shampoos infused with essential oils, but that might not be the best option for your pocketbook. However, you can combine affordability with health by mixing up your own organic flea shampoo, which will repel fleas while leaving your dog smelling fresh. read more

Flea and tick medications are common treatments for pets. They are often sold over the counter and applied to millions of pets ever year; however, flea medication carries a myriad of risks to both pets and owners. The medications are filled with toxic chemicals (they kills fleas and ticks, after all). If they are not applied to extreme caution, serious complications and possibly death may occur. read more

While adult fleas prefer to spend quality time directly embedded on your animal, flea eggs, larvae and pupae are usually found everywhere else. This means that for every flea you find on your pet, there are likely to be hundreds of eggs and larvae around your home and yard. Most people use a variety of toxic sprays to remove fleas from the yard, all of which require you to use a garden hose and a hose end sprayer. Depending on the product you select, the process generally takes anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks. read more

When the amount of red blood cells carrying oxygen to your puppy's brain, muscles and organs decreases, anemia may result. Blood loss, through flea infestation or internal parasites, is a common cause of anemia in young puppies and "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats" advises that up to one-quarter of a puppy's blood may be lost to parasite infestations. Alternately, your puppy may suffer from an underlying medical condition that causes anemia. Recognizing the symptoms of anemia in your puppy will assist you in seeking veterinarian care in a timely manner. read more

Though many people know that ticks and fleas are harmful to a pet's health, not everyone knows how to identify these parasites. Identification is important, since different parasites require different removal and treatment techniques. Pets should be checked for ticks and fleas after time spent with other dogs or outside, because even if you brush and bathe your animal regularly, it is still possible for him to get fleas or ticks. When you first spot a small insect crawling in your pet's fur, you'll need to check him thoroughly---if you've seen one bug, chances are that there are more hiding in the fur. read more

There are several different diseases that are linked to fleas. Most regions of the world have flea populations, and the insects are known to infest the bodies and bedding of dogs. If flea populations are not controlled, disease and infection can cause serious harm to your dog. read more

Fleas are tiny insect parasites that live off of their host's blood. Fleas may be found on an animal companion such as a dog or cat. Fleas can cause discomfort to the host, and are notoriously difficult to eradicate once they have become established. For example, a cleaned pet can become infested with fleas again if the pet comes in contact with carpet in which the fleas are hiding. Some individuals attempt to get rid of fleas in the carpet naturally to avoid causing their pet harm through the use of toxic chemicals and medicines. read more

Use of medicated shampoo. Off-the-shelf flea and tick shampoo can be used regularly to keep fleas off of dogs. Adams' Plus or Sentry shampoos are designed to provide and anti-flea coating to the dog's fur. As the fur and skin sheds, so will the shampoo and its protection. Unfortunately, most shampoos have a short life of effectiveness, ranging from two days to one week. Keep using as directed. read more

Fleas do much more than infest your dog and your cat. They get in to your furniture and your carpets and this makes them a little harder to get rid of. If you don't take care of the problem the fleas will continue to increase at an alarming rate. They will bite the humans of the house as well as the animals. This causes small red bumps which itch. After you have treated your animals, you can get to work eliminating the fleas from your carpet. read more

Itchy skin among dogs is a common problem that can be caused by allergies, fleas, poor nutrition or infection. Pet owners often don't know what to do to help their dogs, particularly if they don't want to pay expensive veterinary fees. Fortunately, there are a number of home remedies available to soothe dog's itchy skin. read more